Feeding the Homeless-Charges

11.6.14: Feeding the homeless: Act of charity or a crime?

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Despite being charged with violating a new ordinance by feeding the homeless in South Florida, advocate Arnold Abbott says he’s not deterred and even went back out for another feeding at a public park.

The face-off in Fort Lauderdale over the new ordinance restricting public feeding of the homeless has pitted those with compassionate aims against residents and businesses trying to protect their neighborhoods.

Ninety-year-old Abbott and two South Florida ministers were charged last weekend as they handed out food. They were accused of breaking the ordinance and each faces up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.

Despite the brush with the law, Abbott, and the ministers, Dwayne Black and Mark Sims, went back out for a feeding at a park Wednesday night as police filmed from a distance.